Coopers Plains
Half the residents of Coopers Plains were born overseas, 28.3 points above the national figure, and that inflow drives much of the suburb's character. The median age of 33 sits 7.0 years below national, university qualifications reach 49.8% (19.7 points above national), and 49.9% of dwellings are rented rather than owned. Yet the median house price is just $475,000, well below most Brisbane markets, and 76.0% of stock is separate houses on a population of 5,675 across 4.22 km2. The SEIFA picture is split: education and occupation rank decile 7 while economic resources sit at decile 2, a gap that reflects a young, skilled but still asset-light resident base.
Population
5,675
Median Age
33.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$1,593/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
34
Median House
$475K
Estimated from rent (2025)
At a $475,000 median house price, Coopers Plains is affordable by Brisbane standards, and the stock favours families: 76.0% are separate houses against just 13.1% apartments and 11.0% semi-detached. Three-bedroom homes dominate at 41.1% and 4-plus bedroom dwellings reach 33.3%, so buyers seeking space have real choice, unlike denser inner suburbs. Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,755, producing a mortgage-to-income ratio of 25.4%, comfortably below the 30% stress threshold despite household income only in the 52.2nd percentile. Affordability matters here because the buyer pool skews young, with a median age of 33 that is 7.0 years below national, meaning many are first or second home purchasers rather than established owners trading up.
For Buyers
At a $475,000 median house price, Coopers Plains is affordable by Brisbane standards, and the stock favours families: 76.0% are separate houses against just 13.1% apartments and 11.0% semi-detached. Three-bedroom homes dominate at 41.1% and 4-plus bedroom dwellings reach 33.3%, so buyers seeking space have real choice, unlike denser inner suburbs. Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,755, producing a mortgage-to-income ratio of 25.4%, comfortably below the 30% stress threshold despite household income only in the 52.2nd percentile. Affordability matters here because the buyer pool skews young, with a median age of 33 that is 7.0 years below national, meaning many are first or second home purchasers rather than established owners trading up.
For Investors
Renters make up 49.9% of households, the largest tenure group and well above the owner-occupier shares, giving landlords a deep tenant pool. Weekly rent of $369 against the $475,000 median implies a gross yield near 4.0%, stronger than premium Brisbane suburbs because the entry price is low. Rent has grown 25.3% over the period, and the 7.3% vacancy rate, while not tight, reflects steady turnover at 33.0% rather than oversupply. Demand support is real: net overseas migration adds 217 residents a year, more than offsetting the net internal outflow of 106. Development is moderate at 31 applications in 12 months. The case rests on yield plus migration-led demand rather than rapid capital growth, since annual population growth runs a measured 1.45%.
Development Activity
Total DAs
158
Last 12 Months
34
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
-8.1%
Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year
N/A
Monthly DA Lodgements
DA Categories
Schools in Coopers Plains iICSEA: school advantage index. 1000 = national avg, higher = more advantaged
Coopers Plains State School
Prep-6 · 211 students
Demographics
The median age of 33 is 7.0 years below national, and the working-age share rose 4.1 points over the decade while the senior share held flat, confirming a young trajectory rather than an aging one. Overseas-born residents reach 49.9%, which is 28.3 points above national, the suburb's defining feature. Ancestry leads with English (1,170), followed by Chinese (931) and Indian (552), and the top non-English languages are Mandarin (309), Gujarati (165) and Cantonese (105). University qualifications at 49.8% run 19.7 points above national, a high figure for an affordable market. Average household size is 2.6, just 0.1 above national. Hinduism (566) and Buddhism (256) follow Christianity (2,126) as the main religions, consistent with the strong Chinese and Indian-born presence.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
76.0%
Houses
11.0%
Townhouse
13.1%
Apartment
Tenure
Tenure tilts toward renting: 49.9% rent, 27.3% carry a mortgage and 22.8% own outright. The low outright-ownership share fits a young median age of 33 where few residents have had time to clear a loan. The stock is 76.0% separate houses, with apartments at 13.1% and semi-detached at 11.0%, so this is a detached-house market despite being a rental-heavy one. Three-bedroom dwellings account for 41.1% and 4-plus bedroom homes 33.3%. The median house price of $475,000 stays affordable relative to income, with mortgage-to-income at 25.4% and rent-to-income at 23.2%, both below the 30% stress line. That dual affordability is unusual and stems from the low entry price rather than high earnings, since household income sits only in the 52.2nd percentile.
Mortgage / mo
$1,755
Rent / wk
$369
HH Size
2.6
Personal Income / wk
$721
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
7.3%
Unoccupied
163
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
23.2%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
25.4%
Community Profile
Languages Spoken at Home
Ancestry
Household Composition
30.2%
Couples, no children
3,961
Total families
Economy & Employment
The workforce concentrates in Healthcare, which leads at 19.4% (397 workers), followed by Education at 11.3% (232) and Professional/Tech at 9.6% (197), with Hospitality at 7.6% and Retail at 7.2%. By occupation, Professionals (711) are the largest group, ahead of Clerical/Admin and Labourers (338 each), a spread that explains the split SEIFA result: education and occupation score decile 7 (IEO 1024) while economic resources sit at decile 2 (IER 935). The IER reading is low because nearly half of households rent and incomes are mid-range, depressing aggregate wealth measures. Unemployment is elevated at 8.3%, above what the skill profile suggests, and participation is 57.8%. Real incomes still grew 21.0% over the decade, so earnings are rising even if asset accumulation lags.
Unemployment
5.7%
Labour Force
3,671
Unemployed
210
Quarterly Trend
Source: SALM Dec-25
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
60.5%
Part-time
31.2%
Participation
57.8%
Employed
2,558
Occupations
Top Industries
University
49.8%
Postgraduate
17.3%
Born Overseas
49.9%
Dwellings
2,068
Transport to Work
Car reliance is high at 78.9% of commuters driving, above the national pattern, while public transport carries 11.0% and active travel only 3.1%, reflecting a low-density layout of 1,344 residents per km2. Affordability is the practical draw, with rent-to-income at 23.2% and mortgage-to-income at 25.4%, both below the 30% stress threshold. On disadvantage, the suburb scores decile 4 on IRSD and decile 5 on IRSAD, mid-range nationally, and 6.9% of residents (371 people) need daily assistance. Volunteering runs at 13.5%. No schools are recorded inside the 4.22 km2 boundary in this dataset, so families rely on institutions in neighbouring suburbs, a trade-off offset by the area's low housing costs and strong public transport links into Brisbane.
Drive
78.9%
Public Transport
11.0%
Walk / Cycle
3.1%
Work from Home
N/A
Population Forecast
+1.45%/yr
(+93 people/yr)
EstablishedCoopers Plains is classified as established but growing, with annual population growth of 1.45% (about 93 people a year) and a 25.4% rise over the past decade. The population recovered fully from a shallow COVID dip of 2.1%, climbing from a low of 5,793 back to 6,269 currently, an 8.2% rebound. Medium forecasts lift the population from 6,435 in 2026 to 6,899 by 2031. Overseas migration is the primary driver, adding 217 residents a year against a net internal outflow of 106, so growth depends almost entirely on international arrivals. The gentrification stage reads early signs at a score of 31, supported by the 34% population gain since 2011 and rent growth of 25.3%, with affordability improving from 61.9% in 2011 to 52.1% in 2021.
Historical + Forecast
Hamilton-Perry + Holt smoothing on ERP 2001-2025
Age Cohort Forecast
Primary Driver
Overseas Migration
Net Overseas / yr
+217
Net Internal / yr
-106
Gentrification Signal
Early signs
Population +34% since 2011, Net internal outflow -106/yr, Strong overseas inflow +217/yr, COVID recovered (-2% dip → full recovery)
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How Coopers Plains compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Coopers Plains a good suburb to live in?
Coopers Plains scores decile 7 on education and occupation but decile 2 on economic resources, a mid-range profile. The draw is affordability: a $475,000 median house price keeps mortgage-to-income at 25.4%, below the 30% stress line, and 49.8% of residents hold university qualifications, 19.7 points above national.
What is the median house price in Coopers Plains?
The median house price is $475,000, affordable by Brisbane standards. Weekly rent averages $369 and monthly mortgage repayments run about $1,755, giving a mortgage-to-income ratio of 25.4%, below the 30% stress threshold. The implied gross rental yield sits near 4.0%.
What schools are in Coopers Plains?
No schools are recorded inside the 4.22 km2 Coopers Plains boundary in this dataset, so families rely on schools in neighbouring suburbs. The resident base is well educated, with university qualifications at 49.8%, which is 19.7 points above the national figure.
Is Coopers Plains safe?
Detailed crime statistics are not available for Coopers Plains in this dataset. As an indirect indicator, the suburb scores decile 4 on the IRSD index of relative disadvantage and decile 5 on IRSAD, both mid-range nationally, with 6.9% of its 5,675 residents needing daily assistance.
Is Coopers Plains good for property investment?
Renters make up 49.9% of households and weekly rent of $369 against the $475,000 median gives a gross yield near 4.0%, stronger than premium Brisbane suburbs. Net overseas migration of 217 a year supports demand, though the 7.3% vacancy rate signals steady rather than tight conditions.
How is Coopers Plains's population changing?
Population grows about 1.45% a year, or 93 people, and rose 25.4% over the past decade. It recovered fully from a 2.1% COVID dip, and medium forecasts lift it from 6,435 in 2026 to 6,899 by 2031, driven by net overseas migration of 217 a year.
What languages are spoken in Coopers Plains?
About 49.9% of residents were born overseas, 28.3 points above the national figure. English dominates, with Mandarin (309 speakers), Gujarati (165), Cantonese (105) and Hindi (55) the most common non-English languages, reflecting strong Chinese and Indian-born communities.
How much development is happening in Coopers Plains?
There were 31 development applications lodged in the past 12 months, a moderate level for the 4.22 km2 suburb. Many are referral-agency responses on siting and amenity rather than large new projects, consistent with an established, detached-house area growing 1.45% a year.
How to read these comparisons
Phrases like "above the national average" reference the unweighted median across Australian suburbs with more than 1,000 residents, not population-weighted national figures. Suburb-level medians are more useful for ranking suburbs against each other; ABS census headlines are population-weighted (so dominated by Sydney and Melbourne) and can read very differently.
Current baseline (refreshed 2026-05-10): median age 40, university-educated 30.1%, born overseas 21.6%, average household size 2.5 people.
Data sources: ABS 2021 Census (demographics, income, tenure), state Valuer-General (house prices), Department of Jobs SALM (unemployment), ACARA (school ICSEA), state Crime Statistics agencies (offences), council DA portals (development applications). Population forecasts use a Hamilton-Perry cohort model calibrated to ABS ERP.
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